Hand-brake.



W. H. SAUVAGE.

HAND BRAKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, I915.

Pmaented Apr. 16, W18.

'3 SHEETS-SHEET a.

3/95 13 woes all a f ebwp.

W. HPSAUVAGE.

HAND BRAKE.

APPLICATION man MAR. 16, I915" Patented Apr. 16, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WILLIAM H. SAUVAGrE, OF NEW YORIQN. Y.

HAND-BRAKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented A r. re, rare.

Application filed March 16, 1915. Serial No. 14,660.

Y '0 (all "LP/1071b it may concern.

Be it known that I, lVILLIAM H.- SAUvAun, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hand- Brakes, of which the following is a specification. j

This invention relates to brake mechanism tor vehicles, and in its more intense aspect,

to mechanism associated with hand brakes.

)ne of the objects of the present invention is to provide a simple and practical hand brake having high speed, high power and quiek acting features. Another object is to provide a hand brake 'of the above general eharaeter having relatively few parts which will be inexpensive to manufacture and assemble. A further object to provide a hand brake mechanism which will be reliable and etiicient under all conditions. A further object is to'provide a mechanism of the first above mentioned character which will 1 automatic in operation and will requireno further etlort, mental or physical, than t hat required to operate hand brakes now 111 general use.

Other objects will be in part obvious from the annexeddrawings and in part indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combination of parts and in the unique relations thereof, all as more completely outlined herein.'

To enable others skilled in the art so full to comprehend the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same'by the. numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention,

'drawings depicting several desired forms have been annexedas a part of this disclosure. and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which Figure 1 is a sectional elevational view of such parts of a brake mechanism as will be necessary to understand the present inven: tiou: I

Fig. 1 is a detail 'view showing the parts 26 and 27 illustrated in Fig. l;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the up per portion of said mechanism;

suburban cars.

F ig ..3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a modified form of brake mechanism;

Figs. 4 and 4 are detailed views of a. square hollow pawl;

Fig. 5 is another view similar to Fig. 1 showing a third modification; and

Fig. 6 is a detailed sectional view of the' parts shown in Fig. 5 in operative position.

In order that others may have a clearer perception of the various objects within the contemplation of the present invention. it may be noted by way of explanation that all electric street cars, suburban, freight or passenger cars and the like are compelled under the regulations of all States tohave a hand brake, although rovided with air brakes, as

it is well recognized that they are more re liable in use than air brakes which occasionally fail to act at a most desired or critical moment. Were it not for the hand brake,

which in most cars is now considered in the nature of an emergency brake, the car might travel for some considerable distance beforebeing brought under control. This would be especially noticeable in heavy high speed In these cars the hand brake mechanism now in general use is open to the serious objection that. in order to obtain the desired power to ,initiall; apply the brakes a relatively small winding drum is used in proportion to the radius of the operating handle and usually four or live turns of this handle are required before the normal or necessary slack in the brake chains or rigging istaken up prior to the actual operation of the brake shoes upon the peripheries of the wheel. Two or. three seconds are ree quired at least in making these turns and in -instantaneously and result. in the immediate application of brakes without materially inereataing the amountof strength required to operate the brakes or adding to the mental effort. of the operation by requiring other mechanical movements than those to which the operator is accustomed.

a der side of the car.

As will now be pointed out indetail by-- reference to the accompanying drawings and more particularly to Fig. 1, the simplicity and practicability of the present const'ruc tion will be apparent. There is denoted at 10 the brake stafi' which may be-mounted upon the'front platform 11 of be assumed to an electric street car and is provided at its upper end with the usual operating crank handle, not shown. This staff extends down wardly through the platform a slight distance and has its lower end 12 mounted in a bearing bracket 13 suspended from the unsecond winding part 18, also mounted upon large ring or link the same staff 10. The end of the chain is secured thereto by means of a bolt 20 having a counter sunk heal 21 on the inner side of the sheave.

It will thus be seen that as the stafi 10 is turned both ends of the chain will be wound thereabout directly and in. the same direction, one on the large sheave or drum 18 and the other on the smaller sheave 15 thereby quickly to take up the excess slack in that part of the brake rigging. It is, of course, to be understood that the pulley 17 is connected in any desired manner with the brake rigging proper.

The upper, brake chain preferably has a 19 attached close to the pulley or sheave wheel, whereby should mechanism get out of order and staff 10 would constitute a direct acting brake to rely upon, as the link would stop in the ulley fork as shown diagrammatically The large drum 18 is threaded onto a I sleeve 22 loosely mounted upon the stafi 10 and provided with cut away portions 23 adapted to contain lubricant, for example. and thereby reduce the friction when these parts turn relatively to each other under cir cumstances as will hereinafter appear more clear. The sleeve 22 and the drum carried thereby are normally held in raised position.

by means of a coiled spring 24 resting in a grooved collar 25 supported upon the sleeve 15. The drum is provided with a lower recess 26 adapted to co-act with a projection 27 on this collar 25 asshown in Fig. 1 to insure uniform rotation of the drum and col lar 18 and 25 at all times and the upper part of the drum is provided with another stop 29coacting with a downwardly projecting portion 31 upon a fixed bearing'member 32 which is rigidly secured to the fioor'of the car as by means of screws 38.

This bearing member 32 is provided with than the Above the bracket and sleeve or winding part 15 to the lower chain an annular flange 34 within which is a ratchet or toothed ring 35 adapted to co-act with a correspondingly'serrated surface 36 or roller 41. Theupper-half ofthe ball being normally embedded in a second'semr spherical hardened pocket, of greater depth gular plate 42 which is held against relative first mentioned pocket, in a rectarnmovement with respect to the stafi' 10 by being keyed thereto-and positioned in a rectangular chamber 43 mounted .upon the squared portion 44 of the stafi' 10. This casing 43 is provided with a circular ratchet 44 about its lower outer part ad pted tojbe engaged by a pivotally mounted manually operated dog 45 upon the bearihg' member or casting 32.

From this description, it will be clear that as the brake handle is rotated, motion will be'transmitted directly to the sleeve or smaller winding part 15 which is positively secured thereto to wind up that end of the chain connected therewith. Motion will also be transmitted through. the casing 43, ball-41 and bearing member 22 to rotate the large drum 18 a corresponding amount, thereby to easily and quickly wind up the necessary slack in the chain connecting the brake mechanism with the brake rigging beneath the car. A quarter turn of each drum is usually sufiicient to remove this sleek As soon, however, as the slack is taken up and a material strain above a predetermined load is exerted or reacted upon the large drum due to the efiective application of the brake shoes to the peripheries of the wheels, the ball or roller 41 will ride up out of the shallow pocket in the plate 40 relatively speaking, and force this plate and bearing 22,

together with the drum 18 carried thereby downwardly, until the ratchet surfaces 35 and 36 engage and positively lock the parts against any rotative-movement. The brake staff, however, continues its rotation, the ball 41riding about on the upper surface of the plate 40, and effectively transmits power through the sleeve 15 to apply the brakes. The dog 45 is manually operated to take into theteeth of the ratchet 44 to hold the brakes when desired.

On release of the brakes the tail of the dog 45 is pushed in in the usual manner to release the ratchet which permits the ball 41 to roll back into the pocket of the plate 40 which releases the ratchet surfaces 35 and 3G and allows the drum to return tonormal position. It is thus seen that a high speed,

high power and quick acting brake mecha- 45 lease the braking power until desired.

ni'sinis provided having relatively few parts, which mechanism is cheap to manufacture and not likely to get out of order.

'In the mechanism shown in Fig. 3 substantially the same principle of operation occurs.

Referring to this figure in detail the stafi 10 in this case is one of the winding parts as thebrakeg are applied. This chain passes over a loose pulley as shown in Fig. 1 and has its opposite end connected at the point 51 to the relatively large winding drum 52.

Positioned on a squared portion of the staff and below a holding collar 53 is an annular disk 54 carrying a plurality of roller bearings thelower parts of which test in semicylindrical pockets in the up-perpart of the drum The lower'part' of this drum is, provided with a radially serrated surface or ratchet 56 and a stop arm 57 adapted to co-act with a stop 58 projecting upwardly from the bracket support 13 A spring 60 normally urges this winding drum to its upper position, as shown. When, however, the slack has been taken upand the strain exerted upon said drum exceeds the torsional strength of the clutch connection between the disk and drum, the rollers 55 will ride out of the semiscylindrical pockets and engage the upper surface of the drum thereby to force the drum downwardly and cause the ratchet surface 56 to engage an automatic spring pressed pawl 61. This pawl is mounted in a pocket 62 and held in raised position by mcansof the spring63 with its flange 64 engaging the upper part of the pocket 62, as shown. This ratchet and pawl cooperate one with another in a manner to prevent positively a reverse winding of the drumto re- ()n the upper surface ofthe platform or floor 11, is. keyed to the staff 10 the usual .ratchet wheel 65 adapted to he engaged by the manually operated pawl (36 at one side thereof in the usual manner.

This construction as the other is: entirely ';automatic in its operation and is manipulated in exactly the same manner so far as.

the operator is com-.erned as hrakgs noiv in general use and does not in any way require ban additional mental effort on the part of the operator to apply the brakes through this mechanism to that to which he has heretofore been accustomed. The importance""of this feature is readily appreciated when an emergency application is required.

This operation is su stantially as follows: On applying the brakes the stafi' 10 is roapplied at any desired degree.

tated by the brake handle in the usual manner which causes a rotation of the connection 50 to wind'one end of the chain about the staff and also transmits power through the disk 54 and rollers to the drum 52' to wind up the excess slack on the opposite end of the chain. As soon, however, as this slack has been taken up by approximately a quarter turn and a real effective braking power is exerted upon the periphery of the wheels,

the torsional strength of this connection, is overcome and causes the rollers 55 to. ride up out of the pockets and force the drum down into locked position which positively prevents a loss of braking power through this end of the chain under allconditions until such is desired by the manual release of the brake handle. The pawlfifi'may be called into play' to hold the ratchetwheel 66 against reverse rotation and hold the brakes In emergency applications. it is'sometimes desirable to give the brake handle a quarter turn by a pull stroke rather than a push stroke. The

pawl is actuated to hold the ratchet 65 while the handle is moved back a quarter stroke by means of the handle ratchet mechanism of well known construction in order that the operator may make a second short pull stroke.

It is to be noted that the operation of the pawl 66 is entirely separate and independent from the automatically operated pawl 61. thereby positively preventing any release of the brakes during this emergency application.

When it is desired to release the brakes the pawl 66 is kicked 01f in the usual manner which allows'the ratchet 65 to rotate with the staff 10 and carry the disk 54 back to such position asto permit the drum 52 to rise under the action of the spring 60. thereby releasing the ratchet 56 from the automatic independently operating pawl 6-1 and allowing the drum to turn until. the stop arm 57 co acts with the fixed stop 58 in the normal position of the parts. i

There is shown in Fig. 5a third modification involving substantially the same principle of braking mechanism. In this media fication, the larger part of' the mechanism is mounted above the car floor 11 and about. the stafi' 10. the lower part of this staff rests in the bracket 1311s before described and is provided with a p'onnection 70 for the high power end of the chain and a relatively large winding drum 71 for the low power end of the chain. This drum 71 is threadedly connected with a sleeve 72 to which is secured a ratchet73, having relatively shallow semisphei'ical pocketsin its upper .surface in which rests roller or ball bearings 74 ('0- ope ating with a second ratchet disk 75 mounted thercabove. The ratchet 73 is Y of the nose of the spring gage the dog surface of the adapted to be engaged by an automatic independently operating spring ressed paw 7 6 at one side, while the ratchet 5 is engaged by the manually operated or foot pressed pawl 77 at the opposite side. A spring 78 normally urges these disks into close relation by reacting against a cap 80; keyed to the staff and provided with ratchet stops 81 engaging with stops 82 upon the upper ratchet disk 7 5. 'The lower part of the disk 7 5 is provided with a smooth hardened surface 83 adapted to co-act with an inclined cam 84lupon the upper surface actuatedpawl 76, thereby to engage and automatically disen- 7 6 with the ratchet 73 on rev lease of the brake stafi when the rollers drop chain will be wound about drum 71 respectively has beentaken u the upper end 0 he chainexceeds the .pre-

.rectly about the stafi' in the same until such time as back into the pockets upon of the disk 73.

lhe operation of this device is substantially as follows:.

On rotating thegstafi dle in the usual menu the upper surface 10 by the brake hanr, both ends of the the stafi and until the normal slack after whichthe pull upon load and becomes sufficiently determined the plate 73 eat to cause a separation of out of the pockets in the lower disk. On such movement the spring actuated pawl 7 6 immediately comes into engagement with the ratchet 73 in such a manner as to posiand by reason of the roller 7a rotating tively prevent an'unwmdmg of the drum during the subsequent operations of the mechanism or until it is intentionally desired to release all pressure. The brakes may be held at a predetermined degree of tension by the operator or he may actuate the pawl 7 to engage the ratchet 7 5 to hold the same for a considerable length of time without effort on his part.

From the description of these several modifications, it is to be seen that all complicated. gearing is eliminated. Both, ends of the chain are wound positively and dithe slack is positively taken up whereupon v w the present invention provides a simple and practical device adapted to accomplish,

among others,

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of direction r the large winding. drumautomatically disconnects and locks all of the advantages and oh; .jects above set forth.

this inven- 1 knowledge readily adapt it for various apwithout omitting features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims. I

I claim 1. In a brake mechanism, in combination, a device comprising a pair of winding parts of diflerent size for applying the brake shoes to the wheels, means for automatically varying the braking power to the degree of pressure exerted in apply= ing the brakes by causing relative moire ment of one part in the direction of the axis of the other and means for locking both winding parts against reverse rotation one of which locking means is automatic in its operation and. independent of the other.

2. In abrake'mechanism, in combination, two windingmeans of different size for ap plying the brake shoes to and exerting a pressure on matically cutting .one' winding means out of action, an automatic positively acting member adapted to hold the larger winding means against rotation above a predetermined load until the brakes are released in tentionally and means for automatically-releasing said automatic holding part when the brakes are intentionally released.

3. In a brake mechanism, in combination, a winding drum for taking up applying the brake shoes to the wheels, a winding means including a drum for applying the brake shoes with the. maximum power, automatic means for cutting the winding drum out of actiodwhen a predetermined strain is exerted, means for preventing backward rotation of said maxi- \mum power winding means and means inplications dependent of said last mentioned means for positively preventing an unwinding'o f the v vdrum as further movement of the maximum power winding mi l-ills takes place.

4. In a brake mechanism, in combination, two winding parts primarily operating to take up slack and apply the brake shoes to the wheels, a clutehYd'evice normally connecting said parts, a stationary'member and means dependent-on a predetermined load on the brakes-for operating said clutch device to throw one of saidparts'outj ofac tion by a relative longitudinal movement of. said part and into clutched engagement with said stationary member.

5. In a brake mechanismfin-combination, a winding drum for talt'ng upthe slack and applying the brake shoes to the wheels, winding means adapted to apply according e" the wheels, means for auto- Mid slack and tion, a de the brake shoes to the Wheels with the maxi: mum braking power, means operating at a predetermined degree oi braking pressure for cutting the drum out 01 action including roller means adapted to cause a longitudinal relative movement of said drum, and means for automatically holding the drum in locked position.

. (3. In a brake mechanism, in combination, a Winding drum for taking up theslack and applying the brake shoes to the Wheels, automatic locking means for said drum operative after the slack has been taken up,

a Winding means adapted to apply the brake shoes to the Wheels with the maximum braking power, means governed by the degree of force exerted in braking for throwing the drum out of operation and Causing a movement of the drum in the direotion of its axis into an independent posi tively locked position.

'i. In a brake mechanism, in combination, two Winding parts primarily operating to take up the slack and apply the brake shoes to the Wheels, means adapted to automati from low to high power gear for automatically varying the braking power according-to the degree oi pressure exerted 1n applying the brakes, and means ior automati- .cally and positively locking the moved part against reverse rotation on such movement.

9. In a brake mechanism, in combination,

tivo Winding parts primarily operating to ta e up the slack and a'pplythe brake shoes oi the brakes for opervice t) throw one oit out o, prominent, and an automatic indeiitly opcra 'i g member adapted to id part against rotation on such movement. I

10. in, a brake mechanism, in combinaace comprising a pair of winding parts of dillerent size for applying the brake shoes'to the wheels, a-bra'kcstalf upon which both of-said'parts are mounted Wheree in the same direction, means ically varying: the braking in proportion to the degree of in r ant-on power created ,rion bv a relative lon i-.

u in

parts of pressure exerted in applying the brakes, and two separate and independent means for locking said pair of winding parts'against reverse rotation, one'of said means being automatic in its operation and the other foot controlled. p

11. In a brake mechanism, in combination, a device comprising a pair of Winding parts of different size for applying thc' brake shoes to the Wheels, a brakestaff upon which both of said parts are mounted, and means for automatically varying the braking power created. in proportion to the degree of pressure. exertedin applying the brakes, said means comprising a pair of plates on' said staff in spaced relation to'each other nor mally relatively connected, one of which is fast on said brake staff and the other open atively positioned with respect to one of said I Winding parts, and means forlmoving said plates, relatively apart 1n the direction of their axes to disconnectthem and lock one of said Winding parts. y

, 12. Ina, brake mechanism, injcombination, a device comprising a pair ofwinding parts of different size for applying the brake shoes to the wheels, a brake stafl' upon which both of said parts are mounted, a stationary member, and means for automatically varying the braking power created in propor; tion to the degree ofp'res'surje cxertcdin' applying the brakes, said means compr sing a pair of normally connected plates on'sgiid stall in spaced relation to each other, one of which is fast on said brake staff, and means associated with said platesadapted tojcause their disconnectionand stop the Winding action of one of said first mentioned winding parts by moving the samcfinto locking engagement With said stationary member.

13. In a brake mechanism, in combina- .lJlOXl, a device'comprising a pair of Winding parts of different size for applying the brake shoes to the Wheels, a brake staff upon which both of said parts are mountcohand means for automatically varying the braking power created in proportion to the degree of pressure exerted in applying the brakes, said means comprising a pair ofrecessed plates on said stafi in spaced relation to each other and normally relatively connected, one'of said plates being fast on said bi-ake stalf, and roller means normally occupying said recesses in said plates adapted to roll out vof one of said recesses and cause a movement of one of the plates in the direction of the axis of the staff thereby disconnecting said plates, and means adapted to lock one of said plates. andfonc of said winding parts against further rotation'when such axial movement takes plaee. v

1;}. In a brake mechanism, in ."combination, a device compr sing a pair of Winding difi'erent sizeior applying the brake comprising a pair of staiI-in spaced relation to each other and shoes to the wheels, said parts are mounted, and means for auto-' a brake stair upon which matically varying the braking power created v in proportion to the degree of pressure ex erted in. applying the brakes, said means recessed plates on said normally rotatively connected, one of said plates being fast on sa d brake stafi, roller, meansno tnally occupying said recesses in said plate; adapted to roll out of one of the recesses and cause a movement of one I plate in the direction of'the'axis of the stafi thereby disconnecting said" plates, means adapted to lock'oneof said plates and one of said'winding parts against further rotation when such axial movement takes place, and

amanually operated vpawl and 'ratchetf mechanism associated with the other bf said plates adapted to hold the same at will-temporarily in the position to which it is moved;

' 15. In a brake mechanism, in combination,

7 a device-comprising a pair of winding parts of difierent size to the wheels, a bearing secured to the floor said ratchets into operative relation and prevent relative movement of said larger winding part. r

16. In a brake mechanism, in combination, a device comprising a pair of winding parts of difierent size for applying the brake shoes to the wheels, a bearing secured to the floor of the car, a sleeve mounted in said bearing to which the larger of said winding parts is connected, a ratchet associated with said sleeve, a coacting ratchet associated with said bearing, and means adapted to force said v.ratchets into operative relation and prevent relative movement of said larger winding part, said means" comprising, a recessed member, a roller bearing partially embedded in said recess adapted'to ride out of said recess on rotation of the brake stafi.

17. In a brake mechanism, in combination, a device comprising a pair of winding parts of difi'erent size for applying the bra e shoes to the wheels, a bearing secured to the floor of the car, a sleeve mounted in said bearing to which the larger of said winding parts is connected, a ratchet associated with said sleeve, a coacting ratchet associated with said bearing, and means adapted to force said ratchets into operative relation and prevent relative movement of said larger wmding part, sa1d means comprising a pair of a device comprisinga pair of diflferenrt size for app surfaces and prevent larger winding memes recessed members, embedded in said recesses adapted to ride out of one ofsaid recesses on rotation of the brake stafi and bodily separate said members, and spring means parts to normal position upon for returning said the release of the brakes and preventing an unwinding of said larger winding part. 18; In a brake mechanism,

i of winding parts lying the brake shoes to the wheels, a. bearing in a roller bearing partially in combination, 7

the car floor havinga pawl mounted on one side thereof,

a ratchet ,the upper part of the bearing, a sleeve having a coacting ratchet mounted of said winding parts, ing said two ratchets into coactive relation comprising a plate having a recess, a roller resting in said recess, a carrier for said roller adapted'to move on rotation of stafi' to carry the' roller out of. said recess, thereby to cause a longitudinal movement of the sleeve to effecta locking of the ratchet further rotation of the part, and a ratchet associated er carrier adapted to be engaged by said pawl at will temporarily to hold the parts in braking position.

19. In a brake mechanism, in combination, a device comprising a pair of winding parts of difierent size for applying the brake shoes to the wheels, a bearing in the car floor having a pawl mounted on one side thereof, a ratchet onthe upper part of the bearing, a sleeve having a in said bearing adapted to carry the larger of said winding parts, and means for forc- 1ng said two ratchets into coactive relation comprising a plate having a recess, resting in said recess, a carrier for said roller adapted to move on rotation of the brake staflf to carry the roller out of said recess thereby to cause a longitudinal movewith said r01 ment of the sleeve to eflect a locking of the aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM H. SAUVAGE.

Witnesses: Q ,7

' Romnn B. Annneson,

DEILA A. WEIL.

a roller coacting ratchet mounted I hold the parts in braking posi- Mo 75 in said bearing adapted to carry the larger 1 and means for forc- 

